I almost lost £51 million in lottery winnings due to a stupid decision, but my car saved the day
- Anonymous winner – € 195,707,000
On July 19, 2022, a British ticket holder won a record £195 million EuroMillions jackpot – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The owner, who remains anonymous to this day, made his fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite – € 184,262,899.10
The previous British EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won the record jackpot of £184million in May 2022 and had hoped for a joint Hawaiian holiday and a new horse stable for their children’s ponies.
Joe purchased his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and received an email the next morning with good news.
When he heard about the huge win, he couldn’t believe it and initially kept it to himself, not wanting to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications salesperson, and Jess, who runs a hair salon with her sister, have been married for eleven years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir won a colossal prize money in 2011 and were the second biggest winners in Europe until someone in Italy won a £193 million jackpot in 2019.
They were spending the money at a staggering rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But when Colin died in December 2019, his share of the prize money had shrunk by around £40 million.
He spent millions on a life of luxury, splurging on sports cars, real estate and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death, after 38 years of marriage.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford – € 148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won €190 million in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which equated to over £148 million.
But the following year, Adrian split from Gillian due to the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiard room, but it was sold in 2021.
After his divorce in 2013, he failed to woo former sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz, but he did fall for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking with her 30 prize horses that Adrian had purchased.
Things may have turned out well for Adrian after all, as last year the former postman was spotted laughing with ambulance worker Tracey Biles.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charities after she and her husband won the top prize.
On New Year’s Day 2019, they raised almost £115 million.
She estimates she has already given away £60 million to charity, as well as to friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall – €61,000,000
The couple, from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61million on January 30, 2024.
They are both 54 years old and enjoyed a holiday in Fuerteventura to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
But then they discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard said they initially thought they had won £2.60 but then received another email telling them to check their account.
Other stunning anonymous winners:
Another anonymous winner won a prize of £123,458,008 during the June Superdraw rollover.
After nine rollovers, one ticket holder won the jackpot of £122,550,350 last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
Another anonymous winner found his fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, winning £121,328,187.
